A senior minister in the Akhilesh Yadav government in Uttar Pradesh has deeply embarrassed it by supporting corruption. The minister said that government officers have a right to take commission if they work hard. The minister in question is Shivpal Singh Yadav, who holds important portfolios like public works department (PWD) and irrigation.
After his comment created a controversy, he backtracked and said that the media had quoted him out of context. 'I have never used such words,' Yadav said on Friday. He said that there was a 'strong and calculated political conspiracy' behind the 'misinterpretation' of his statement, which he made in Etah. Yadav is a younger brother of the Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
'I had called a meeting with local officials to discuss ways and means to curb graft. How can I encourage them to be corrupt,' the minister added. In a statement he said, 'The media was not invited in that meeting, still some people were sitting there and when I asked officials not to take commission the media misunderstood and gave a twist to the whole statement.'
At a meeting of the District Planning Committee, Shivpal Yadav had reportedly told officials in Hindi: 'Agar aap mehnat karoge to thodi bahut chori kar sakte hain.'
Later, Yadav said that the Samajwadi Party government was committed to curb corruption and therefore had taken action against 127 officials of the irrigation, co-operative and PWD departments that he heads.
The minister's statement has created a political furore, as leaders from across the opposition criticised him. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lalji Tandon slammed him, 'This statement shows how serious this government is in controlling corruption.' Senior Bahujan Samaj Party leaders also lambasted Yadav for the 'irresponsible utterances' and demanded his resignation.
After his comment created a controversy, he backtracked and said that the media had quoted him out of context. 'I have never used such words,' Yadav said on Friday. He said that there was a 'strong and calculated political conspiracy' behind the 'misinterpretation' of his statement, which he made in Etah. Yadav is a younger brother of the Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
'I had called a meeting with local officials to discuss ways and means to curb graft. How can I encourage them to be corrupt,' the minister added. In a statement he said, 'The media was not invited in that meeting, still some people were sitting there and when I asked officials not to take commission the media misunderstood and gave a twist to the whole statement.'
At a meeting of the District Planning Committee, Shivpal Yadav had reportedly told officials in Hindi: 'Agar aap mehnat karoge to thodi bahut chori kar sakte hain.'
Later, Yadav said that the Samajwadi Party government was committed to curb corruption and therefore had taken action against 127 officials of the irrigation, co-operative and PWD departments that he heads.
The minister's statement has created a political furore, as leaders from across the opposition criticised him. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Lalji Tandon slammed him, 'This statement shows how serious this government is in controlling corruption.' Senior Bahujan Samaj Party leaders also lambasted Yadav for the 'irresponsible utterances' and demanded his resignation.